Cosmic Microwave Background at low frequencies

Abstract

The next generation low-frequency radio telescopes may probe cosmological models by means of observations of the cosmic microwave background (CMB). I discuss the prospects for observations of CMB imprints - recombination lines from the epoch of recombination, μdistortions and angular temperature anisotropies - at low frequencies. A future low-frequency radio telescope, like the proposed SKA, may be capable of attempting some difficult CMB measurements because of the large collecting area and large element numbers; however, this will require a telescope design that will allow specialized calibration strategies and will give emphasis to the control of spurious responses.